Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 details leak

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 details leak

A video purporting to be a teaser trailer for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab 2 has leaked out, offering a glimpse at what the company may be planning for its follow up Android tablet.

The original Galaxy Tab was well-received, if somewhat expensive, offering a powerful alternative to Apple's popular iPad in a 7in form factor. Its successor keeps the same size, but looks to improve on the original in almost every way.

Although Samsung has yet to confirm details of the device, it is rumoured to feature a high-resolution display - with claims that it will feature the Super AMOLED promised for the original Galaxy Tab but swapped out for a more readily available LCD panel at the last moment - along with a dual-core ARM-based processor, thought to be either one of Samsung's own models or the increasingly popular Tegra 2 platform from graphics specialist Nvidia.

The display will be protected by Corning's tough Gorilla Glass, and the device is also thought to include integrated 3G connectivity alongside 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and the latest version of the Bluetooth standard. 1GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage, and a raft of sensors - including accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, and even a barometer.

The leaked details include the claim that the rear camera will feature an 8 megapixel sensor with dual LED flash and feature 1080p high-definition video recording capabilities, along with a front-mounted 3 megapixel camera for video calls.

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Samsung Star II details leak

Samsung Star II details leak

Details of Samsung’s upcoming S5260/Star II have surfaced online, giving us some idea of what to expect from this phone. While there isn’t any official word on the operating system, the user interface looks very much like Samsung’s bada OS and it should feature specifications such as a 3-inch 240 x 400 pixel capacitive display, 3.2-megapixel camera, EDGE support, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, Office document support, 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support. The phone is expected to land sometime this quarter and should be aimed at budget-oriented consumers.

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Report: Samsung's Bada To Offer In-App Advertising Capabilities

Report: Samsung's Bada To Offer In-App Advertising Capabilities

Bada, Samsung's own mobile operating system, on track to power around 5 million phones by year-end, has just updated its software development kit (SDK) to version 1.2.1. The update reportedly includes an important new feature: in-app advertising capabilities. The feature, which will allow bada developers to monetize their apps, will go live beginning January 1st, 2011. At least, that's the news coming out of Samsung Hub, an unofficial source that typically publishes reliable content and scoops.

This news has not been officially published anywhere as far as we can tell, not on Samsung's blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook pages or in its news rooms. But the updated SDK is available for download now. Samsung Hub, as noted above, is an unofficial, but often accurate, source for Samsung-related information, so we're betting on this news being credible while awaiting official confirmation.

According to the blog post, developers implementing in-app advertising capabilities into their apps will retain all the revenue generated - they will not have to split that revenue with Samsung.

In looking through the release notes for the Samsung bada 1.2.1 SDK, we don't see any mention of "advertising," "ads," "revenue," or anything else that hints at this new feature, though. (Let us know if you spot it, maybe we just missed it.)

It makes sense that Samsung would launch this capability, though - bada-powered phones are selling well...very well, in fact. Considering that the first bada phone, the Samsung Wave, didn't ship until June, and the Wave was the only bada phone available until October, the platform is off to a decent start. Samsung has also noted that it has seen over 50 million downloads of apps from its own app store, too, mostly thanks to bada's popularity.

In addition, with the upcoming bada 2.0 OS, Samsung will add more features to the platform, including a better user interface, Near Field Communication (NFC), a smarter homescreen, SDK support for Linux and Mac, SNS integration and more.

Although bada's numbers are promising, analysts recommend developers consider their options carefully before jumping on board this train. Samsung has not fully committed to the OS, Strategy Analytics analyst Alex Spektor reminded us recently - it also supports Android and Windows Phone 7, for example. However, Samsung is ending support for Symbian as of January 1st, it should be noted, giving the company more time to focus on bada going forward into the new year.

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News: Samsung's bada Phone to be Shown at MWC

Samsung has confirmed that it will showcase its upcoming smartphone OS, the bada at the upcoming MWC later this month.

In a blog post on its bada blog, Samsung has revealed that the bada OS will feature the latest version of TouchWiz and that it would be very simple to use. We will also be seeing the first phones based on the bada OS at work at the MWC.  The first device based on the bada OS would be the bada S8200, which is set to sport a 3.7 AMOLED screen, HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 5MP autofocus camera. It will also be powered by the now popular Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that powers the likes of the Nexus One and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10.

As of now, we know that the bada-based S8200 will be priced at around $575 (Rs. 27,000 approx). What we do not know is whether the S8200 will be amongst the device shown at the MWC.
As for the bada OS, from the early screenshots of it at work, it does look contemporary and quite usable. The big question is how Samsung plans to position it amidst the likes of the Androids, the Windows Mobiles and the Symbians of the smartphone arena.

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FIRST TAKE: Samsung Omnia Pro

FIRST TAKE: Samsung Omnia Pro

Samsung slaps a keyboard onto the Windows Mobile Omnia and sends it to work. Check out our hands on look at the Samsung Omnia Pro.

At Samsung Mobile headquarters, we recently had the opportunity to get a hands-on look at some of the manufacturers newest high-end, touchscreen phones, including the Samsung Jet and the Samsung Omnia 2. Rounding out the bunch was the Samsung Omnia Pro, a phone we reported on last month when it was originally launched. In following with current smartphone naming traditions (a la HTC's Touch Pro), the Omnia Pro takes the basic Omnia design and adds a keyboard to it. But in our hands-on time with the Omnia Pro, we found changes far deeper than the simple full QWERTY keyboard.

The Samsung Omnia Pro uses an interface that is dramatically different from the fun and widget-happy TouchWIZ 2.0 interface on the Samsung Jet. The Pro's interface is all business. Underneath, the Samsung Omnia Pro is running Windows Mobile 6.1, and the company says buyers will be able to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 when it becomes available, probably this September, if Microsoft hits their release target.

In our time with the Samsung Omnia Pro, we found the interface to be useful for business users. It sacrificed flash and fun for useful information, bringing new messages, appointments and more to the top level for easy viewing. In landscape mode, the phone starts by offering up a simple shortcut menu to key business applications. Samsung is still using a multi-page interface for a main menu, but these were more static than on the Samsung Jet, with less customization and more solid productivity options.

The star of the show will obviously be the slide-out keyboard. In our time with the Samsung Omnia Pro, we found the keyboard to be large and comfortable. The phone uses an ample 3.5-inch, AMOLED screen, at a WVGA resolution of 800 by 480 pixels, and that gives a large keyboard plenty of room to hide when it's not needed. Keys on the Samsung Omnia Pro were flat, contiguous squares, more reminiscent of older HTC Touch Pro designs than the discrete keys on other side-sliding Samsung phones like the ill-fated <>Samsung Glyde. Like the Nokia E71, the Samsung Omnia Pro has a dedicated switch for 'business' or 'pleasure' modes. Press the button and the phone will switch to a personal mode, giving more attention to apps, shortcuts and sound profiles befitting a day off, rather than a day's work. For serious business users, it's a nice feature, and it acknowledges that more business users are using their smartphones for multimedia and other fun capabilities, and not just scheduling appointments and editing Word documents.

To that end, the Samsung Omnia Pro comes with a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and an LED flash. The phone will ship with 1GB of internal memory, which seems like just enough for saving attachments in business mode, so music lovers will probably want to spring for an external card. The Omnia Pro can handle microSD cards up to 32GB. The phone will be able to integrate with a DLNA living room, and will have TV output capabilities for showing movies and pictures on a larger screen.

Pricing and availability for the Samsung Omnia Pro has yet to be determined. Rumors suggest the phone will be available late this summer for about 500 Euros. American versions of this phone haven't been announced, which is too bad, since Samsung has already made official the Samsung Omnia 2 on Verizon Wireless. Of course, like the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro, the Omnia and Omnia Pro would make a logical pair, but we're not ones to divine the will of the U.S. carriers.

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FIRST TAKE: Samsung JET

FIRST TAKE: Samsung JET

Samsung fires the first shot in the mobile processor wars with their new 800Mhz feature phone. Check out our hands-on impressions of the Samsung Jet.

At Samsung Mobile headquarters, company reps gave us a hands-on look at their newest flagship feature phone, the Samsung Jet. The Jet is not a smartphone. It runs a proprietary OS instead of Windows Mobile, like the Samsung Omnia 2. Still, with its 800 MHz processor and advanced capabilities, this has got to be the smartest 'dumbphone' on the market. With companies beefing up their mobile processor offerings, we expect to see a new MHz war open up in the mobile phone world soon.

The Samsung Jet is a bit smaller than the Samsung Omnia 2, thanks mostly to the smaller display. The Omnia 2 uses an AMOLED touchscreen that is 3.7-inches diagonal. The Samsung Jet uses the same AMOLED technology, but the screen comes in more than a half inch smaller, at a still-respectable 3.1-inches. The AMOLED screen on the Jet looks fantastic, and users are going to enjoy the new technology as it trickles down into more and more phones. Colors look bright and fresh, and the phone is capable of much deeper blacks, lending a deeper contrast to the display. Also, the AMOLED technology uses 40% less energy than a comparably sized TFT LCD screen, according to Samsung. In our hands-on time, we took a look at the 180-degree viewing angle, and there was hardly a point where the screen didn't look crisp and legible.

Meet the new TouchWIZ, same as the old TouchWIZ?
The Samsung Jet uses an updated version of the Samsung TouchWIZ interface (to read about more TouchWIZ phones, click here). We were never big fans of TouchWIZ. The widgets seemed to require more screen real estate than the phone would allow. The same is true for the new TouchWIZ interface, at least what we saw in our hands-on look. On the new TouchWIZ 2.0, widgets can update live over the Internet, which should add more functionality to the phone, and to make up for the lack of screen space Samsung has endowed the interface with 3 separate homescreens, much like the Apple iPhone and T-Mobile G1 use multiple home screens. Just flick your finger to see more widgets, along with a separate wallpaper and other customizable options. This was a nice compromise for the UI, so we're curious to take a longer look at a new TouchWIZ phone and see if this solves the problem.

In addition to the new TouchWIZ screens, the Samsung Jet gets the new Samsung cube menu, a six-sided multimedia interface where each side is a shortcut. Samsung has a thing for cubes, and we remember the touchable cube from the ill-fated Samsung Glyde home screen. On the Samsung Jet, if you want to access the music side of the cube, you can either move the 3D model with your finger, or you can set the phone to recognize gestures. Flick the phone in the right direction and the cube will move, revealing the shortcut you need.

In our hands-on time with the Samsung Jet, we weren't very impressed by the cube design. While it was a cool idea, for sure, it didn't seem to add any real feature advantage, and it wasn't easier to use than a simple homescreen shortcut. We could see ourselves showing off the cube to jealous onlookers, but never really using it on a daily basis.

With great power comes great responsiveness

With its high-end processor, Samsung is promising that using the Samsung Jet will be a much more responsive experience. The company even claims an instant response from a 3D interface that will match the speed of touch. In our hands-on with the Samsung Jet, the phone certainly seemed plenty responsive, but we're still skeptical of these broad claims. The phone had the trademark feel of a resistive touchscreen, a technology that works very well with a stylus, but not so much with fingers. We'd like to see Samsung try their hand at a capacitive screen, like the screen on the Apple iPhone or the new Palm Pre. Capacitive screens work much better with fingers, and the Samsung TouchWIZ UI is definitely built for finger control.

Besides the interface, Samsung is putting that power behind the multimedia features on the Samsung Jet. The phone will be able to play DivX videos and a range of codecs, like the Samsung Omnia, but Samsung claims the phone will have no trouble adapting and resizing videos to the WVGA, 800 by 480 pixel screen. To store all those videos, along with music and photos, the Jet will come in 3 storage configurations, ranging from 2GB up to 16GB of internal memory. All models will expandable with a microSD card slot capable of holding a 16GB card, for up to 32GB total capacity.

If you build it . . .

For the Samsung Jet, the company built their own proprietary mobile browser, called the Dolfin browser. Though Dolfin is a strictly Samsung design, the browser is based on WebKit technology, which means it should render pages similar to other high-end Web browsing phones, like the iPhone and Nokia's Nseries devices, all of which use a WebKit browser. Instead of multi-touch, the Web browser, along with the photo gallery app, will use a one finger zoom. We've seen similar controls on HTC TouchFLO devices, and it works nicely as a compromise for a resistive screen. In addition to the one-handed zooming, the Jet's Dolfin browser will also use an ad-blocker, and will be capable of multiple downloads in the background.
The Samsung Jet will also be among the rare feature phones (non-smartphones) to have built-in Exchange ActiveSync access. Instead of using a separate app for e-mail and contacts synchronization, the Samsung Jet will have Exchange built-in at its core, so even without a smartphone OS the Jet will still be useful for business customers who use an Exchange account.

The 5-megapixel camera on the Samsung Jet will feature plenty of advanced options for picture taking, many of which we've seen on compact cameras, and are now seeing on cameraphones. The Jet will use auto focus and two LED flash lights to help keep shots sharp. The phone will also get face detection, smile detection and even blink detection to make sure the shutter snaps at just the right moment. Of course, with onboard aGPS, the phone will also be able to geo-tag photos.

Samsung has yet to announce an official release date for the Samsung Jet. The company was fairly certain the Jet would not be sold in the U.S., and pointed us instead to the Samsung Omnia 2, which has already been confirmed for a Verizon Wireless launch some time in the future. Pricing and availability have also yet to be determined.

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Samsung unveils Google phone, Vodafone NZ firms up Android plans

Samsung unveils Google phone, Vodafone NZ firms up Android plans

 

Google’s Android operating system continues to gather steam.

Samsung has become the first A-list consumer electronics maker to show off a cellphone running on Google’s Android software.

The Korean company - the world’s number two cellphone seller beyond Nokia - will release the Samsung i7500 in Europe in June, and through the US and Asia during the second half of the year.

Beyond Google’s operating system software, the i7500 (pictured) features a raft of mod-cons including a 5 megapixel camera and 3.2-inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen.

 

Vodafone NZ says it is in talks with Samsung, and should have the i7500 on its 3G network later this year.

The i7500 will operate at either 850Mhz (the frequency used by Telecom’s 3G network launching May 13) or 900MHz (used by Vodafone’s 3G network).

So far, only HTC has released an Android phone, the G1, and only through US-based carrier T-Mobile (although unlocked, parallel-imported models are sold here).

Soon the G1 will be joined by the HTC Magic, aka the G2, which Vodafone will sell worldwide including New Zealand. Talk has been of G2 release in the second half, but a Vodafone New Zealand spokesman says to expect the Android handset here “mid-year”.

Telecom, which has a closer relationship with Samsung than Vodafone, has yet to respond to queries regarding the i7500, but in previous comments has taken a guarded approach to Google’s OS.

“The Android platform is a newly developed, open source environment that is in its infancy, and [Telecom] will closely monitor its uptake and stability with customers before we launch devices. We look forward to more handset manufacturers launching devices with this as their primary operation system,” said a spokeswoman.

Motorola and Sony Ericsson also have Android handsets slatted for the second half of this year, which should both see New Zealand release, while HP could shortly become the first mainstream PC maker to port Android to a netbook.

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Twikini : Twitter Client for Windows Mobile

Twikini : Twitter Client for Windows Mobile

Twikini offers a powerful and efficient way to use Twitter on your phone. It conveniently updates your favorite feeds in the background, and leverages the camera, GPS, media, touch screen, keyboard, graphics and storage capabilities of your device.

Twikini is currently in public beta - you’re welcome to download and use it for free.

Our goal is to make Twikini the best designed Twitter app for Windows devices in the world.

Main Features

• FAST! Unlike other Twitter apps for Windows® Mobile, Twikini is written entirely in native C++ code for maximum performance and the fastest load time possible.
• Simple, uncluttered, and customizable user interface. Choose from a variety of themes for the best reading experience.
• Post tweets using a full screen editor. Optionally, set your location (either manually or using GPS) along with your status updates.
• Twitpic integration to post photos with your status updates. Select existing photos or click new ones from your device’s camera.
• Read status updates just like browsing a web page. Quickly reply, retweet, favorite, or email other people’s tweets.
• Windows Media Player integration. Automatically tweet the song and artist you’re listening to.
• Single download that is compatible with all Windows® Mobile devices - both touch and non-touch.
• And lots more…

Official site: http://www.trinketsoftware.com
Application version: Free BETA

http://rapidshare.com/files/223667941/twikini_B.zip
http://www.ziddu.com/download/4383669/twikini_B.zip.html

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ESET Mobile Antivirus for Omnia

ESET Mobile Antivirus for Omnia

 

Smartphones and PocketPCs are widely used for communication, entertainment and services. As these tiny computers become more standardized and packed with more sophisticate features, they are increasingly at risk of attacks and exploits.

ESET Mobile Antivirus delivers proactive and comprehensive protection from viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, worms, rootkits, and other potentially unwanted software. It will keep your smartphones and Pocket PCs safe — even between signature updates. Its fast engine keeps your inbox uncluttered by filtering SMS spam from unknown and unwanted senders.

ESET Mobile Antivirus has low CPU, memory requirements and compact updates which minimize data bandwidth usage. It will protect email attachments and other files being transferred or accessed without impacting performance.

Key features:

• Proactive Protection: Detect and clean known and unknown mobile malware
• Light Footprint: About 300 KB installed and 1 MB of RAM used when scanning
• Fast Scanning Speeds: Streamlined technology detects more files and scans them at lightning speed
• SMS Anti-Spam: Filter unwanted text messages to the spam folder with simple rules

Official site: http://www.eset.com
Application version: 1.1.200811101507

http://rapidshare.com/files/202447734/ESTAV_11.rar
http://www.ziddu.com/download/3635148/ESTAV_11.rar.html

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Touchscreen Samsung S5600 fights back at LG Cookie

Touchscreen Samsung S5600 fights back at LG Cookie

By this point it is more than obvious that Samsung are pushing hard on all fronts. Obviously the midrange touchscreen market is the next area where the Korean company aims for with Samsung S5600.

Samsung S5600 appeared on the sly at the MWC 2009 in Barcelona and somewhat escaped the attention of the crowds (and ours too).

Samsung S5600 isn't yet officially announced so the information about it is pretty limited. From what a quick glance tells us the handset will be a low-end fully touch-operated handset running on the TouchWiz UI. It will also come with 3G support, which its main competitor - the LG KP500 Cookie lacks.

Samsung S5600

It is no wonder that Samsung are entering this market segment having seen the wonders that the Cookie did for LG's sales. We are however yet to see when will the S5600 actually make it to the market and what will its exact pricing be like.

Samsung S5600

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Samsung F480 gets two new editions - Rockstar and La Fleur

Samsung F480 gets two new editions - Rockstar and La Fleur

Samsung have announced the new reincarnation of their highly popular Samsung F480 model. This time there's a Rockstar Edition featuring PINK and her new album. You can bet that the new editions have new colors as well.

The mark of any good product is its longevity. And clever manufacturers know how to make the best out of their successful products. Yeah, you probably remember Motorola RAZR. But we digress...

The Samsung F480 (also known as the Samsung Tocco) is among those products that get multiple editions in a marketing effort to continue their product life.

F480 already got revamped under the Hugo Boss branding and now Samsung have announced two new reincarnations - the Samsung F480 Rockstar Edition an the Samsung F480 La Fleur.

The rockstar in question is Pink and her new album "Funhouse", which reached the top of the charts in the UK and debuted second in Germany and the US.

The new Samsung F480 Rockstar has shed its serious black looks and slipped into something more… pink. Aside from that, it also picked up the songs from the album and a 1GB memory card. The other perks are a Pink-branded wallpaper and with a bit of luck 10 people will have the chance to win two tickets each for the tour promoting the album.

Samsung F480 Rockstar Edition

The F480 Rockstar edition will be available in Germany in February with an asking price of 499 euro, which seems unreasonably steep.

As for the Samsung F480 La Fleur edition - it's price is not currently known but it should hit the market really soon as well.

Samsung F480 La Fluer (source Mobile-review.com)

Unfortunately, the F480 La Fleur edition may be offered on a regional basis only (much like the Rockstar edition in Germany), which means it would hit only the Russian market.

Beside the new outfits both the new editions are functionally the same as the original F480, which is a pretty nice phone even now an year after its announcement.

A quick glance at the spec sheet reminds of the 2.8 inch touchscreen with QVGA resolution, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, a document viewer and lets not forget the TouchWiz UI, the F480 was the first Samsung phone that used it. You can read more about it in our dedicated F480 review.

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The 8 megapixel Samsung i8910 records HD video, ready to roll

The 8 megapixel Samsung i8910 records HD video, ready to roll

Samsung i8910 is the new addition to the long line of Samsung phones that leaked these last two weeks. This time we're talking something big though - both in size and in features. The i8910 will be the first phone to record HD video. It's also packs a huge touchscreen and runs on the Symbian S60 OS 5th edition (think Nokia N97).

Samsung i8910 seems to be one of the juiciest phones to be announced at this MWC. Its most conspicuous feature is the huge touchscreen, which looks similar to the 3.8-incher on HTC Touch HD.

As far as rumors go Samsung i8910 sports an 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording (1280 x 720 pixels), GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity, HDMI output and a 3.5mm audio jack plus DivX and DNLA certification. Considering the front barely noticeable camera, we might be sure of the 3G support.

The Samsung i8910 will come in 8GB and 16GB versions much like the Samsung Omnia it comes to upgrade.

Currently there's no info about the OS, but some sources quote it as the latest Symbian S60 5th edition, used in Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia N97.

We just can't wait to get our hands on one of these babies.

Source

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Fring updated with new features for Windows Mobile smartphones

Fring updated with new features for Windows Mobile smartphones

A new dose of fring for Windows Mobile smartphones brings several much needed features to its mobile VoIP users. For instance, the latest release of fring for Windows Mobile (officially version 3.34) carries new & improved fring Add-ons. And it now supports the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and Samsung Omnia, to name a few.

What else is new in the updated fring for Windows Mobile? The File Transfer function is one, giving users the option to send digital files to all fring, Skype, MSN & Yahoo buddies at the click of a button. This is all done via the Internet, so wires/cables, Infrared connections, or Bluetooth pairing won’t be required.

Improvements to navigation and functionality have also been added, with the inclusion of a new ‘Go- To menu’, Privacy and ‘Joystick-In’ settings, typing indication and new Add-Ons Managment screen. These all add up to make the overall user experience simpler.

HTC users will be glad that they’re the only ones getting support for earpiece use in this update, so that they can carry on their VoIP conversations over an earpiece, but owners of other devices powered by Windows Mobile should feel the difference just the same.

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News - Samsung Innov8: The ultimate mobile entertainer

Samsung Innov8: The ultimate mobile entertainer

Proving their renowned leadership in the camera-phone industry, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. recently launched Samsung Innov8 — the first eight-megapixel camera phone for the GSM market — designed for powerful mobile photography, unlimited access to information and an exciting entertainment experience.

Samsung Innov8 offers users top-of-the-line camera technologies, a surround-sound cinematic video experience, the best mobile Internet browsing experience and mobile gaming capabilities.

Shutterbugs will love the phone for its ability to capture and store precious memories in style. It has the latest in imaging applications such as smile shot, blink shot and face recognition features. The camera phone also lets you personalize photos, videos and music with cool applications such as Movie Maker and Story Board. If that’s not enough, the handset also acts as a digital photo frame, which lets you display your favorite images.

The phone has an impressive 2.8-inch 16M color LCD, which is crystal clear so you can view your pictures really well.

You can choose between 8GB and 16GB internal memory. Those who are click-crazy will be happy to hear that the phone has an external memory slot of up to 16GB micro SDHC so you will never run out of storage space. Best of all, the phone’s 1200mAh battery provides a long-enough battery life for nonstop multimedia fun.

Samsung Innov8 supports a wide range of video player formats such as DivX, Xvid, WMV, Real Player and MPEG4. You can even have an extra enjoyable and realistic pocket cinema experience with the phone’s external dual speakers and 3D surround sound supported by DNSe 2.0.

Gamers will fall in love with the Samsung Innov8, which is ideal for video games. Apart from having two of the world’s most famous games — Asphalt and FIFA 08 — the handset also has been chosen as the official phone for the World Cyber Games 2008.

For those who always want to be online, Samsung Innov8 is the perfect partner for web browsing with its optical touch pad and a four-way navigation key so users can enjoy PC-like browsing. Of course, both HSDPA 7.2 mbps high-speed Internet and WiFi connection offer a convenient and seamless Internet experience wherever users are.

With all these features plus GPS technology, NavFone navigation, geo-tagging service, the Symbian OS V9.3 and S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, Document Viewer, Shozu, Yahoo Go, GyPSii, CNN, Google Search and Gmail, Samsung Innov8 is sure one impressive phone.

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News - Calendar syncing comes to the Instinct

Calendar syncing comes to the Instinct

When we reviewed Sprint's Samsung Instinct earlier this year, there were several things we liked about the device. Naturally, we had a few complaints as well, not the least of which was the lack of corporate calendar syncing. The Instinct could get some Outlook e-mail, but without calendar syncing it had a limited appeal as a business handset.

Yet, starting Thursday, Instinct owners can get calendar syncing through a software update to the device's Mobile E-mail application. The new feature will be free of charge (provided you have a Sprint "Simply Everything" plan) and will work with Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, 2003, and 2007 accounts and IBM Lotus Notes. People will be able to see daily, weekly, and monthly views of their calendar and details of specific appointments and meetings. You'll also get meeting reminders, the ability to accept or decline new appointments, and the ability to edit or delete current meetings. All changes will be synced automatically with the user's desktop calendar. What's more, Sprint says it plans extended calendar syncing to other non-smartphones in the near future.

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News - Verizon Drops Samsung Omnia Price

Verizon Drops Samsung Omnia Price

Verizon has already cut the price of its version of the Samsung Omnia, even though it just launched this touchscreen-oriented Windows Mobile smartphone last week.

The Omnia debuted on this carrier's website on Nov. 26 for $250 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Just a few days later, it is now selling for $200 under those same conditions.

No reason for this change was given, but as the Omnia is often compared to the iPhone, Verizon decided that this model should sell for the same price as Apple's smartphone.

This Samsung device will hit Verizon Stores on Dec. 8.

An Overview of the Samsung Omnia

The Omnia has a design that focuses on its 3.2-inch, 240-by-400 pixel touchscreen. As mentioned earlier, it's one of several smartphones that strongly invites comparison to the iPhone 3G.

It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, but Samsung has added its TouchWiz user interface, which has been designed to make some of the features of the device easier to use with a fingertip.

This model depends on its on-screen keyboard, and haptic feedback on the touchscreen provides subtle vibrations to confirm selections. It also includes an optical mouse.

This device's 5-megapixel camera includes a flash, face detection, panorama, split shot, and anti-shake capabilities.

It also has a microSD card slot and a GPS receiver.

Verizon's version of the Omnia supports this carrier's EV-DO network.  It will also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth,

The 1440 mAh battery will, according to Verizon, provide 346 minutes of talk time or 464 hours of stand-by time.

The Samsung Omnia comes with the Opera 9.5 web browser, as well as the standard Windows Mobile suite of productivity and entertainment software.

Overall, it is 4.4 inches tall, 2.2 inches wide, and 0.5 inches thick. It weighs  4.3 ounces with battery.

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Samsung Pixon Engages Sony Ericsson C905 and LG Renoir in Battle

Samsung Pixon Engages Sony Ericsson C905 and LG Renoir in Battle

November 25, 2008, 09:37 PM — 

The mobile phone manufacturers are now firmly concentrated on the latest camera technology and launching some of the highest specification camera phones including the latest Samsung Pixon along with rival offerings from LG and Sony Ericsson.

As micro technology starts to play a major part in mobile phones manufacturing the number of features and applications available in a standard sized device has started to expand at a rate of knots, this technology is allowing for features that easily compare to standalone gadgets.

With the way that mobile technology is currently going consumers will no longer be leaving their homes with a number of assorted gadgets but instead the latest mobile phone will take care of most if not all of their daily entertainment, communication and multimedia needs.

A typical example of this latest technology is the introduction of 8 megapixel camera lenses in mobile phones, it was only months ago that standalone digital cameras were able to offer consumers this quality of picture capture but now it can be found alongside the communication needs of a consumer in the form of a mobile phone.

As with the latest offering from Samsung, we can even take advantage of features such as face detection and image stabilisation which has always been the realm of digital cameras, the new Samsung Pixon offers this same technology and other surprising camera features.

Autofocus is present making image capturing easy for any ametuer photographer, advanced shake reduction and wide dynamic range also feature in the Samsung Pixon camera options, also can be said for this phones rivals in the form of the LG Renoir and Sony Ericsson C905.

The LG Renoir takes this camera technology a step further by offering a Schneider Kreuznach lens, autofocus, manual focus, Face Tracking, smile and blink detection and a xenon flash. The Samsung Pixon has an older style LED flash which is fine for poor light conditions but will not produce the results of a Xenon flash in dark environments.

The Sony Ericsson C905 also offers face detection technology and the Xenon flash of the LG Renoir but this is a Cybershot phone, renowned as a photographic focussed phone (excuse the pun) the Cybershot range has always taken mobile phone photography one step further than its competitors, the same can be said for this latest model which has an 8.1 megapixel camera with 'real' camera flash and a massive 16 x zoom for close up photo capture.

Deciding between these models is difficult and many consumers will be lead by what they know, that is to say that most mobile phone users have grown accustomed to a particular manufacturer and find it hard wavering to competitors, in general once a consumer has had a good experience with a certain phone model they will stick with the manufacturer in the future.

As the technology becomes available the mobile manufacturers are jumping on it fast and releasing it to the general public, 8 megapixel phones are a huge leap from the previous 5 megapixels offered by what were the top of the range models only weeks ago.

The Samsung Pixon, Sony Ericsson C905 and LG Renoir have been joined by some new 8.0 megapixel phones, the manufacturers are not resting on their laurels and Samsung have already released the i8510 whilst LG the KC780, this brings the current total to five high specification camera phones on the UK markets.

Consumers can expect more of the same moving into next year with the eventual onset of 10 megapixel devices in the near future, they are already available in the Japanese markets and it is only a matter of time before they make their way into the pockets of UK consumers - The death of the digital camera?

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News - Pixon 'tops the eight-megapixel monsters'

Pixon 'tops the eight-megapixel monsters'

The latest eight-megapixel cameraphone may be one of the best around, according to one expert.

In an article posted on the Trusted Reviews website, Sandra Vogel looks at the new Samsung Pixon and states that hot on the heels of the Tocco, the phone has a lot to contend with.

She states the Pixon, which also goes by the name of the M8800, also follows similarly photography-focused handsets including the Samsung i8510 Innov8 and LG KC910 Renoir, both of which have previously been recommended by the site.

The Samsung Pixon is similar in its design to the Omnia i900 and Tocco F480, Ms Vogel notes, adding that in addition to its camera facilities, it offers microSD support, a 3.5mm jack, FM radio and 3.2-incjh touchscreen.

"In terms of general usability this is my favourite eight-megapixel handset to date. The Tocco was a super mobile phone, and the Pixon brings it to new heights," she concludes.

Sony Ericsson fans looking for an eight-megapixel cameraphone may be interested in the manufacturer's latest flagship model the C905.

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Review - Samsung Pixon M8800 Ultimate Review

Samsung Pixon M8800 Ultimate Review

Who is Nick Turpin and what are his adventures? Well, if you have been following the release of the latest mega-megapixel camera phone, the Samsung Pixon, you will probably know! Nick Turpin is a street photographer and he has been let loose with the Pixon to photograph his life in detail for a month. Is there a much higher recommendation than a professional photographer agreeing to use a cameraphone to showcase his work?

The Pixon was initially thought to be known as the Bresson, an equally ridiculous name but perhaps less ‘photo’ than Pixon, when it was spotted in picture form on the Internet and joined the ranks of the other 8 megapixel camera phones expected before the end of the year. Currently a war between Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG – Nokia have remained neutral so far – the Pixon will be up against the Sony Ericsson C905, the Samsung INNOV8, the LG KC780 and the Renoir KC910.

But to standout these days, a massive megapixel shooter is only the start, your new phone has to have a few other top-end features and one or two super-special ones to attract the buying public’s interest. So, has Samsung achieved this with the Pixon? Find out in our comprehensive review.

First Impression of the Samsung Pixon M8800
It’s All About the Megapixels.

But is it? Well, the Samsung Pixon’s 8 megapixel camera is certainly impressive, but it’s by no means a one trick phone, as there’s plenty more to experience inside. However, Samsung have really gone to town with the camera features and software to make this a true camera/phone hybrid.

Samsung Pixon - Eight Megapixel Equipped.

The 8 megapixel lens is mounted inside a raised section on the top rear of the Pixon M8800. It’s designed to look and feel like a regular point and shoot camera and indeed can be held on the exact same way, making it a very comfortable companion. There is autofocus and a powerful flash for taking the best pictures possible and a secondary lens for video calling on the front panel.

Software Enhancements.

The Pixon’s similarity to a regular point-and-shoot camera continues with the ample selection of software tweaks for the camera. First we have face detection, blink detection and smile detection, then an auto-panorama mode along with an advanced shake reduction system. There is also a 16x zoom option, but since this is a digital zoom, you probably won’t worry about it too much.

Fun Additions.

Face Link is a clever way to make your photos interact with your phonebook! In a similar way to Facebook, you can link the faces of your friends in picture form to their entries in your phonebook, making it easy to send an SMS or make a call to them as you browse your saved snaps. Live Pix is a doodling program with a difference. First you can scribble amusing mustaches or black eyes over a picture of your friend, then save the file as a Flash animation and watch the transformation from before to after. Then send it to them!
Innovative Photo Album.

The Samsung Pixon has a built-in accelerometer which does something a little more than simply auto-rotate the screen when you change the orientation of the handset. When you’re looking through your pictures in the album, instead of pressing a button to advance, just tip the Pixon M8800 in the direction you want to go and the next picture will scroll smoothly into view!
Geo-Tagging GPS.

GPS is featured inside the Samsung Pixon M8800 and as well as being Assisted-GPS, it also supports geo-tagging, so you can tag your pictures with the exact location where you took them.

Samsung Pixon M8800 - Outstanding Features.

The camera may be the Samsung Pixon’s headline feature, but they haven’t left it at that as there are a few other very interesting features hidden inside its sleek, touchscreen casing.

The Sound of Music.

As usual, Samsung have included their excellent MP3 player with support for the majority of common file formats. Unfortunately there is no 3.5mm jack plug for your own headphones, but there is an FM RDS radio.

Versatile Video.

What the Samsung Pixon M8800 lacks in musical features, it makes up for in video. The large screen is perfect for a movie and since the phone supports DivX and XviD file formats, there should be plenty of compatible files to enjoy. Videos and pictures can be viewed on the big screen thanks to the addition of a TV-Out socket.

Incredible Sound.

The LG KC910 will feature Dolby Mobile, but for the Pixon M8800, Samsung have decided to include their own sound enhancement tweaks in the form of their SRS sound system. This gives a virtual surround sound from the Pixon’s stereo speakers and is often found in Samsung’s TV’s.

Fast Data Connections.

Samsung have omitted to include Wi-Fi on the Samsung Pixon M8800, preferring to leave such things to the more business-like Omnia, but have made the phone 3G with full 7.2Mbps HSDPA support. You also have EDGE and GPRS just in case, plus A2DP Bluetooth and a USB connection for data transfer.

Samsung’s Minimalist Style.

Since the Samsung Pixon M8800 is a touchscreen mobile phone, there is little to break up the simple-looking case aside from three buttons under the screen. But Samsung have still managed to make an attractive phone and have kept the dimensions to a very good level – the best on the market in some areas.

Touchscreen Operating System.

The Samsung Pixon M8800 employs a similar operating system to that found on the F480 Tocco, the TouchWIZ. In addition to the full touchscreen experience, the home screen is fully customisable with the addition of widgets scrolling down the side of the screen ready to be dragged into use. These widgets can be added to by downloading more from the Samsung website.

Impressive Battery Life.

There are plenty of power-hungry applications inside the Pixon, yet Samsung still quote a 300 hours standby and a talktime of around 4 hours.

Market Leading Dimensions.

Samsung claim the Pixon M8800 to be the slimmest 8 megapixel cameraphone on the market, beating the LG KC910’s 14mm thickness by .2mm. The remaining dimensions are good, with the screen taking up a huge 3.2” of the flush front panel and displaying a resolution of 240×400. Weight has also been kept in check, with a final total of 121 grams.

Masses of Memory.

With an 8 megapixel camera, the pictures you take are going to swallow up your available memory, so even though an internal 200MB sounds generous, it will disappear after a few snaps have been taken! Luckily, there is a MicroSD card slot ready to take your storage cards up to 8GB in size.

The battle of the megapixels has only just begun, with all the contenders yet to make it on to the market. However, Samsung have taken an early lead with their two impressive shooters, with only LG challenging them at the moment. No doubt Sony Ericsson’s C905 will be impressive, and the upcoming Blackberry Storm will also be hot, but for now, the Pixon is the cameraphone to watch.

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News - Samsung OMNIA coming to Italy on 22 July

Samsung OMNIA coming to Italy on 22 July

Last month Samsung announced the OMNIA Windows Mobile device that looks like a direct competitor to the Apple iPhone. I was bit surprised, and yet pleased, to see that Samsung announced it will be available on 22 July starting in Italy. It seems these devices are usually announced and then appear several months later, but this release is being made just one month after the official announcement.

The Samsung OMNIA (means “everything” in Latin and “wish” in Arabic) looks to take Windows Mobile to the next level, similar to the HTC Touch Diamond. Actually, you can check out a very detailed head-to-head between these two devices below.

The OMNIA has a 3.2 inch WQVGA LCD display, 5 megapixel camera, 8 or 16 GB internal flash drive with microSD slot, integrated GPS receiver, FM radio with RDS, 1440 mAh battery and more. I hope to see this device released in the U.S. or at least made available with a U.S. HSDPA variant.

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